August 31 is Merdeka Day, the national independence day, in Malaysia. It celebrates the proclamation on August 31, 1957 that gave the Federation of Malaya independence from Britain. It wouldn’t be until 1963 (and the breaking off of Singapore into a separate state) before Malaysia, the country, would come into being.
Merdeka Day is celebrated with parades, music, and the showing of the flag. Above is the 2008 celebration in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Whether Malaysia is as free as it could be is open to debate. Read more about this on b5media’s blog about Malaysia, “The Kuala Lumpur Traveler.”

February 4 is Independence Day in Sri Lanka, the small island formerly known as Ceylon, located south of India in the Indian Ocean. 2008 is the 60th anniversary of the island nation’s independence from British rule in 1948.
Sri Lanka is a nation of approximately 20 million people, the majority of whom are Buddhists. The island is known for its tea, rubber plantations, tropical forests and uncrowded beaches. To read more about Sri Lanka and the 2008 Independence Day celebration, visit About Sri Lanka, an excellent blog about the country.
(photo credit: the kosovar/cc license)